Varde sink cabinet becomes breakfast bar

Materials: Varde Sink Cabinet, Vika Amon countertop

Description: I wanted to build a breakfast bar that also had storage inside it instead of just being hollow. We had a useless wall between our kitchen and family room that I decided would make a good spot for the bar. I took that wall down completely to start from scratch.

For reference, the dimensions of the bar were to match the dimensions of the Varde sink cabinet – 52″ long, 23.5″ wide. First, I framed out the base for the bar using 2×4′ and other lumber. The very bottom layer is 2×4′ nailed into the joists in the basement.

Next, immediately above those I placed 12″ tall, 1″ wide wood pieces for the outside frame. I used metal L-brackets, nails, screws, and wood glue to make sure this frame was very sturdy.

Third, I completely cut the legs off from the Varde sink cabinet because I wanted it to have a solid foundation instead of just four small legs holding it. I then installed the Varde cabinet on top of the 14″ frame I had built, again secured with wood glue, nails, and screws.

Fourth, I covered the three sides in quarter-inch thick oak panels with a cut-out for the cabinet doors. I did this for a few reasons. First, the Ikea wood pieces are not real wood and would not take a stain. Second, I wanted the bar to look uniform from every angle and the Ikea cabinet was not like that – it is angular as you might see in the pictures.

Fifth, I installed a cheap Ikea countertop called Vika Amon. It came with screw holes already so it was very easy to install. Note: I would have greatly preferred to use the Vika Byske table top with the rounded corner to make it look more like a breakfast bar, but my local Ikea said that was a closeout item, they had none in stock, and would not be getting any more.

Sixth, I stained the three sides with a dark oil-based stain and polyurethane. Finally, I added white trim pieces to the bottom so that it matches the trim in the rest of the room.

Total cost: $35 for table top, $169 for sink cabinet, approximately $100 for lumber/nails/stain/polyurethane/trim.

Not pictured: The sink cabinet does not come with a middle shelf – it is just one big space inside. I bought a 10″ white shelf and installed it to give the cabinet inside two levels.

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Jules IKEAHacker "I am Jules, the engine behind IKEAHackers and the one who keeps this site up and running. My mission is to capture all the wonderful, inspiring, clever hacks and ideas for our much loved IKEA items".

Not sure what country you live in, but in the US (poster is in Delware) the vast majority of houses are made of wood, including almost all load bearing surfaces (except where the weight and/or length is too excessive). I know that’s less common in Europe and other areas.

Uhhhh… did you check to make sure the “useless” wall wasn’t so useless? With the horizontal supports in there, I wonder if it was a support and/or load bearing wall. I hope you check with an engineer before ripping it out.

Of course they can! If the ceiling framing above is running parallel to the wall, then it is likely not load bearing. If it is running perpendicular, then it is likely load bearing. Ask a friend who works in construction or engineering.

Yes, one of my best friends is an engineer and I had him check it out beforehand. This wall runs parallel to the joists and is not load bearing. It actually looks like it might have been an amateur job to put up the half wall after the house was built – when I took it out, it was not even connected to the ceiling framing in any way. It was only connected from below to the basement framing.

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